Tuesday, September 30, 2008

A Tomato Tip


The following entry is from my adorable hubby. He's really the cook in the family. Enjoy!

The last tomatoes of the season sit on my kitchen windowsill. The sun has ripened them to near perfection. They’ll be just right by Saturday, when I’ll put them up for the winter.

I tried for years to store fresh tomatoes by following the standard recipe for freezing tomatoes: clean them, peel them (optional), quarter them, (add garlic and other seasoning, if desired) and simmer them with a little water until reduced by about half. Then freeze them in Tupperware or plastic bags.

I followed the simple directions, and was happy with initial outcome. The simple reduction was fresh and tasty when it came out of the pot. But come winter, when I pulled out a container to add a splash of summer to a meal, I found the tomatoes covered in frost and freezer-burned.

Then a friend gave me a simple tip that lets me keep fresh tomatoes year round. All you to do, I learned, is make sure to fill the container ALL the way to the top, almost to overflowing. The key to freezing is to make sure to get ALL the air out of the container. That’s it. So simple, but it makes ALL the difference.Another great thing about freezing—and a reason to consider freezing throughout the summer months—is that you can use vegetables that you might hesitate to use in a salad or side dish because they’re bruised or checked. It’s a way to get great value from your garden or by purchasing the vegetables that grocers and farm stands often set aside on a discount shelf.

Monday, September 29, 2008

Blissful Images

I can't stop drooling over the gorgeous images available at blissful images new etsy shop. There's something so gentle and soothing about them. You must check them out or visit her blissful blog.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Hazel the Owl

My husband's grandma was all about owls. She had a bathroom filled with owl pictures that we used to call "the room with a thousand eyes". I love this owl photo from blissful images, found via design*sponge.


Thursday, September 25, 2008

Fall Celebration Sale at Farmhouse Wares

CELEBRATE FALL WITH A SALE FROM FARMHOUSE WARES.
SAVE 15% OFF ANY ORDER NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30th.
ENTER CODE "fall08" UPON CHECKOUT.
(offer good while supplies last. not valid on previous purchases.)

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Blue Corn Pancake Mix

Try something new for breakfast. Blue corn, a staple of Southwest native foods, has a hearty texture and nutlike flavor and is appreciated for its nutrional value. Our Kenyon's Blue Corn Pancake Mix makes a healthy way to start your day.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Pumpkin Carving

My daughter woke up early on Saturday and declared it pumpkin carving day. We had fun going to the farm stands and seeing the loads of pumpkins just in--fresh from the fields. When we got home she was ready to start carving. While she was all about the traditional Jack-O'-Lantern, I thought I'd carve our house numbers because we're in the process of painting the front door and we had to take the numbers down. Here's how I did it:

Using Word, I created a template by selecting a type style and making the text size 650. I printed and trimmed them into rectangles. I taped them into place and used a sharp tool, such as a toothpick, to poke small holes, creating an outline around the numbers. Then I just carved away.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Keep on the Sunny Side

Have a cozy weekend everyone. Keep on the sunny side.

Watch the video. It will make you happy.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Poison Ivy Relief

Poison Ivy is so sneaky and vicious this time of year. Everything is so overgrown that it makes it harder to spot. I was working in the garden like a mad woman, pulling weeds and cleaning out. I was on a roll, when suddenly I realized I had just pulled a clump of the wicked weed. I also noticed a batch of it had sprouted up in a walkway that the kids go barefoot on. My husband fell in poison ivy while mountain biking. You’d think he was Meryl Streep in Silkwood the way he scrubbed his body down.

Listening to him complain about itching is not one of my strong points, so I handed over our bottle of Poison Ivy Relief, as I knew it would bring relief on many levels.

This cream is amazing. Traditional herbs are combined to stop the gnawing itch brought on by poison ivy. St. John’swort and burdock root calm the irritation while soothing the skin. Relief at last! Its peppermint scent is great too--uplifting and clean.

Stop by Farmhouse Wares for your Poison Ivy Relief today. It’s a must-have for your first-aid kit.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Housekeeping Olympics and the Dishwasher Inspector

Dishwasher Inspector
Believe it or not, I just learned that there is an event called the Housekeeping Olympics. Apparently these go on all over the country. The participants are dedicated to fluffing and primping and being the ultimate clean machine. The competitions include bed making (move over Martha), three-legged vacuum races, and the Johnny mop toss (or something like that). But they don't have a dishwasher loading competition. Gasp! That's like not having gymnastics at the summer Olympics. I must tell you, I am the dishwasher loading diva. I can load faster and more efficient than anyone in the land. My friend Tony thinks he's the best, but we've yet to compete. All I can say to Tony is, "Bring it"! We'll let the Dishwasher Inspector decide who is best.

Photo from flickr

Sunday, September 14, 2008

Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival


Farmhouse Wares is proud to play a small role in the first ever Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival presented by Food and Wine magazine. The event benefits two important charities, the Food Bank For New York City, fighting hunger in New York, and Share Our Strength, one of the nation's leading hunger relief organizations working to end childhood hunger in America.

The event, which runs October 9-12 in New York’s fashionable Meatpacking District, features Rachael Ray, Paula Deen, Giada De Laurentiis, Tyler Florence, Alton Brown, Masaharu Morimoto, Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, Ferran Adria, Alain Ducasse, Gordon Ramsey and Nigella Lawson to name a few. Click here to learn more.

To help raise funds, the The Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival is hosting an on-line auction from September 15- Oct 15, 2008, featuring unique selections of rare wine, gourmet dinners, extravagant getaways and other luxury items at http://www.nycwffauction.cmarket.com/. To support this effort, Farmhouse Wares has donated a set of four Recycled Glass Willow Goblets. These Recycled Glass Willow Goblets are made from recycled Napa Valley wine bottles, which we think are pretty perfect for this wine-loving crowd. They are offered as part of a set called Accessorize Your Wine. The auction opens today, so scamper off, and start your bidding.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

An Apple a Day

We all know an apple a day helps keep the doctor away. This is the time of year to put that old adage to work. Our apple trees are brimming with fruit. There are only so many pies one can eat, so I find myself looking for other ways to put my apples to good use.

Of course, every kitchen needs a bowl (click here for the yellowware bowl shown above) full of apples. Having them right out on the table makes it easier for my daughter to choose a healthy snack. Another quick and easy idea is to make apple votive holders. Simply carve out the center and add your candle. Put several together on our eco-friendly wood compote for a friendly fall centerpiece.

You can also bring the scent of fresh baked apples into your home without all the work of actually baking—just try our best-selling Baked Apples and Cream soy candle by Sweet Grass Farm.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

A Cup of Jo and a Bowl and Spoon


Be sure to visit Joanna Goddard's blog, A Cup of Jo, today for a chance to win our Bowl and Spoon Set. Her blog is packed with great finds, so you'll be glad you stopped by.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

Honey symbolizes the sweet life


This September, Celebrate The Sweet Tradition of Rosh Hashanah With Farm Fresh Honey!

Honey is integral to the Rosh Hashanah traditions of wishing for the New Year to be a sweet one.

There's nothing sweeter than supporting two small businesses that strive to help our planet. Farmhouse Wares' Black Cat Raw Honey from New England Wildflowers is a best-seller. It's packaged in old-fashioned "muth" jars and is packed with healthy enzymes, minerals and antioxidants. If you like variety, try our Artisanal Honey Sampler by the Savannah Bee Company.

Give the gift of honey with all its sweetness and health benefits. The sweetest thing of all is that with each purchase you're supporting the bee farmers.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Set Your Harvest Table With Our New Wheat Pitcher


There's something graceful and inviting about wheat, and our new Wheat Pitcher captures those qualities perfectly. I think this handsome creamy white ceramic pitcher is a must have for any harvest table. Available now at Farmhouse Wares.

Top Photo from Free Picture Click

Thursday, September 4, 2008

See what's new at the Farmhouse Wares Flea Market

THE FARMHOUSE WARES FLEA MARKET IS BRIMMING WITH NEW ITEMS
UP TO 50% OFF.
Quantities are limited, so stop by today.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Support NieNie



On Saturday, August 16, 2008, Stephanie Nielson, a popular blogger at The NieNie Dialogues, was in a plane crash with her husband, Christian Nielson. Christian & Stephanie were badly burned and remain in critical condition at Maricopa Burn Center. To support the family the blogging community is spreading the word: to lend your support please click the "donate" button below. To learn more click the Nie recovery button above.